May 28, 2008 > Olden Henson (incumbent) - Candidate for 4-year term on Hayward City Council

Olden Henson (incumbent) - Candidate for 4-year term on Hayward City Council

For the past 14 years, Olden Henson has served on the City Council. He feels his experience is what sets him apart from the rest.

Henson's is very serious about public safety and it's his top priority if re-elected. "By focusing on an injunction both civil and criminal that allows the city attorney to go to court and essentially banish gang members from certain areas of the city. The Red Light Camera which I championed for nine years will be in place later in the fall. This potentially frees up officers to respond to more neighborhood and community needs."

He also would develop a public-private partnership with the City, the schools, and the business community. Businesses would adopt schools allowing employees to tutor in math, chemistry and other subjects while city employees would be allowed to do the same. He feels that the city needs to address economic development and become more business friendly. Revising their permit process is a priority because Henson feels it is cumbersome and discourages new businesses from coming to Hayward.

The mini loop is a big problem that needs to be reexamined. Henson says it will add time to fire and police response in the city. "When you flip the streets around downtown, you add precious time to emergency response time and that can be fatal to someone. I am the only one [incumbent] running who voted 'no' on that project. I hope we can get one more vote to turn this around. The project as a whole is great with the exception of the loop. We want people to stop downtown; maybe we just need to tell them that if they want to cut across downtown Hayward they'll have to accept the traffic."

So where does Henson stand on the two proposed Power Plants? "I voted against the East Shore Power Plant and flew back from a lobbying trip to Washington to cast that vote. It is not necessary and would be too close to residents, schools and other sensitive receptor areas." As for Russell City Energy Center in 2005, he feels he made the right decision approving the land trade agreement with Calpine. He also maintains that he feels he had more then enough information about the Plants when he voted "yes."

"We were facing black outs and even now we don't know where we are going. I look at this as a transition plant, one that transitions to renewable energy sources. Calpine has gone green now, and I have spoken to them personally about going with renewable energy. One day I would love to make a solar ordinance in Hayward. I think all new buildings built in Hayward should be required to have solar power But it has to be done in small phases."